Friday, November 30, 2018

Today we hail and remember the legacy of Portland underground heavy metal band XINR. On November 30, 1984, as they rode back to their rehearsal house to practice for a show the following night, singer Tony Saiz and guitarist Shaun Tramel were killed on their motorcycle by a car that ran a stop sign at SE Woodward Street and 39th Avenue (now known as César E. Chávez Blvd.), tragically ending the ascent of what might have become the biggest local band since Wild Dogs. R.I.P. Tony and Shaun. Love to their surviving friends and families. Blast The Ghostly Galleon today and TRUST XINR!

(L to R): Kenny Stocks (bass), Paul Dreyer (drums) and Roger DeCarlo (guitar) reunited for the first time in 28 years in September 2012 at East End for one very special evening. Photo by Chris Hoard

(The Gig That Never Happened): a somber moment on stage at East End as Roger DeCarlo displays the original flier for the XINR gig scheduled for December 1, 1984 that never happened due to the motorcycle accident that took the lives of Tony Saiz and Shaun Tramel one night earlier. Photo by Anna Wilson.

Monday, November 26, 2018

Join us this Friday November 30th at AFRU Gallery as we close the gates on SHADOW OF DEMONS forever!
Doors open at 6pm and LEBENDEN TOTEN will raze the gallery to rubble at approximately 10pm. This has been one of the most popular and successful exhibits I have ever had the pleasure of curating, and I've assembled quite a few noteworthy shows over the years. Many of the paintings in this exhibit have sold and after the closing reception they will slip away into private collections, so this is truly your last opportunity to experience this spectacular collection of Ghana movie posters assembled in one massive space. Due to capacity limitations, I recommend arriving before 10pm if you want to get inside to see LEBENDEN TOTEN. I'll probably be playing records too. Don't miss it!

I have to be honest, the month went by way too fast and I am definitely going to miss standing in the SHADOW OF DEMONS. Just look at these beautiful treasures from the golden age of Ghana's mobile cinema movement by master painters Jasper and J.A. Atesin, faithfully (and rather uncharacteristically) replicating the original American VHS box art.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Wyrd War proudly presents this previously undiscovered collection of wild improvisational explorations from Emmy award winning jazz composer and film industry veteran Roger Kellaway. Recorded on prepared piano in December 1977 during his inspired sessions for director Karen Arthur’s mind-blowing psychotic cinematic drama The Mafu Cage, THE MAFU DANCES are powerful expressions of the maestro’s experimental compositional prowess sure to astonish fans of his more traditional work (such as his end credits theme for 70s sitcom All in the Family, which has essentially burned its melody into the hippocampus of anyone over the age of 40). Side One was recorded live at UCLA on December 9, 1977, while Side Two consists of themes improvised at Kellaway’s home studio in Thousand Oaks, California on December 2, 1977 during the recording of his score for The Mafu Cage. Explode into the outer limits of the avant-garde with percussive tribal cadences that nod toward John Cage, Harry Partch and Milford Graves. Sourced from Kellaway’s personal archives and mastered for vinyl by Timothy Stollenwerk. Available now for the first time in any format and strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide. Available for pre-order NOW and shipping immediately for Wyrd War webstore supporters! Worldwide release date: December 19, 2018.

Sunday, November 04, 2018

Thank you to everyone who came out this weekend to stand and be counted in the...SHADOW OF DEMONS! It was an amazing and inspiring night in every way. And to think, with absolutely no mention from the local press we had over 400 visitors attend the opening reception...and stick around all night! Wyrd War supporters are the best! The exhibit will be on display at AFRU Gallery every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2pm until 6pm with our closing reception on Friday November 30 from 6pm until midnight with a live performance by Lebenden Toten! I will personally be at the gallery on Saturday November 10, Sunday November 18 and Saturday November 24 if you want a private tour of the show. Very special thanks to my friend Brian Chankin of Deadly Prey Gallery in Chicago and his beautiful family and the entire crew at AFRU Gallery!